Viveash
A 10.9% vacancy rate in a suburb where 74.1% of homes are separate houses tells an unusual story for Viveash, a compact 1.49 km2 pocket in Perth's eastern corridor. The median house price sits at $447,000, well below the national average for metropolitan Perth, yet household income is at the 66.1st percentile nationally, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 23.3%. That combination of affordability and reasonable incomes places the suburb firmly in the mortgage-belt tier. The overseas-born share of 31.7% runs 10.1 percentage points above the national figure, driven partly by a Malayalam-speaking community, and healthcare employs 29.5% of local workers, the dominant industry by a wide margin.
Population
1,280
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,833/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
Median House
$447K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $447,000 median, Viveash sits below most comparable Perth metropolitan suburbs, making it accessible for first homebuyers and upsizers. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning median-income households can service a loan here without strain. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 74.1%, with 25.9% semi-detached and no significant apartment component. Bedrooms lean large: 44.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 51.1% have 3 bedrooms, so families looking for space will find it. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850. With 43.2% of residents carrying a mortgage, the suburb skews toward owner-occupiers still paying off, rather than established long-term holders.
For Buyers
At $447,000 median, Viveash sits below most comparable Perth metropolitan suburbs, making it accessible for first homebuyers and upsizers. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning median-income households can service a loan here without strain. Stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 74.1%, with 25.9% semi-detached and no significant apartment component. Bedrooms lean large: 44.1% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 51.1% have 3 bedrooms, so families looking for space will find it. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850. With 43.2% of residents carrying a mortgage, the suburb skews toward owner-occupiers still paying off, rather than established long-term holders.
For Investors
The 10.9% vacancy rate is a material risk factor for investors, running higher than most healthy Perth suburban markets and suggesting that supply exceeds current rental demand. Weekly rent of $340 against a $447,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 3.9%, modest but workable if occupancy can be maintained. The renter share is 27.5%, relatively thin compared to higher-density suburbs, and only 14 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, signalling limited new supply pressure but also low churn. The turnover rate of 22.4% means that roughly one in five properties changed hands or tenants recently, indicating some market activity. Investors should weigh the affordable entry price against the elevated vacancy before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
24
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, putting Viveash in line with the broader Australian age profile rather than skewing older or younger. The overseas-born share of 31.7% sits 10.1 percentage points above the national average, notably driven by a Malayalam-speaking community (38 speakers), pointing to South Indian heritage residents alongside more established English (554), Irish (130) and Scottish (111) ancestry groups. University qualifications reach 28.4%, which is 1.7 points below the national rate, a small gap consistent with a skilled-trades and healthcare workforce rather than a professional enclave. Average household size of 2.4 is on par with national norms, and 37% of families are couples with children, reflecting a practical family-oriented suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.1%
Houses
25.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Viveash is decisively detached-house territory: 74.1% of dwellings are separate houses and 25.9% are semi-detached, with no meaningful apartment stock. Bedroom sizes lean large, with 44.1% at 4 or more bedrooms and 51.1% at 3 bedrooms, suiting families rather than downsizers. Tenure splits to 43.2% under mortgage, 29.3% owned outright, and 27.5% renting. The median house price of $447,000 with rent-to-income at 18.5% means tenants face low housing stress, while mortgage holders at 23.3% also stay below the stress threshold. The 10.9% vacancy rate stands out as the sharpest signal in the housing data, suggesting some supply-demand imbalance that is keeping properties untenanted longer than the suburb average.
Mortgage / mo
$1,850
Rent / wk
$340
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$903
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.9%
Unoccupied
62
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
1,005
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry in Viveash at 29.5% of employed residents (129 workers), a share that is well above national industry averages and likely linked to proximity to Swan Valley and Midland health services. Education follows at 10.5% (46 workers) and Public Administration at 7.5% (33 workers). Mining employs 6.6% (29 workers), reflecting Western Australia's broader resource sector influence compared to eastern-state suburbs of similar size. By occupation, Professionals lead at 133 workers, followed by Community and Personal service workers at 114 and Clerical/Admin at 106. Unemployment sits at 4.8%, close to the national rate, and the full-time employment rate of 65% is solid, with a participation rate of 61.9%.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.0%
Part-time
30.2%
Participation
61.9%
Employed
628
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.4%
Postgraduate
6.8%
Born Overseas
31.7%
Dwellings
509
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high in Viveash: 85% of residents drive to work, compared to a national figure that trends lower in more transit-connected areas, and only 6.6% use public transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 2.3% of commutes. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on schools in neighbouring areas. The overseas-born population of 31.7% and volunteering rate of 15.4% point to an engaged community with diverse backgrounds. Housing stress is low on both the rental side (rent-to-income 18.5%) and mortgage side (mortgage-to-income 23.3%), keeping financial pressure below average compared to national benchmarks. Only 5.1% of residents (62 people) need daily assistance, indicating a broadly healthy working-age population.
Drive
85.0%
Public Transport
6.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Viveash compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Viveash a good suburb to live in?
Viveash offers affordable housing at a $447,000 median price with low financial stress: mortgage-to-income sits at 23.3% and rent-to-income at 18.5%, both below national stress thresholds. The suburb is car-dependent with 85% of residents driving, and there are no schools recorded within the boundary, so families rely on nearby areas. The 10.9% vacancy rate is notable and suggests looser rental conditions.
What is the median house price in Viveash?
The estimated median house price in Viveash is $447,000 (based on 2025 rent data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,850 and weekly rent averages $340. Household income sits at the 66.1st percentile nationally, making the mortgage-to-income ratio a manageable 23.3%.
What schools are in Viveash?
No schools are recorded within the Viveash suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with school-age children rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications among residents reach 28.4%, which is 1.7 points below the national figure, consistent with a workforce skewed toward trades and healthcare rather than professions.
Is Viveash safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Viveash in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, housing stress levels are low with rent-to-income at 18.5% and mortgage-to-income at 23.3%, both below national stress thresholds. Only 5.1% of residents (62 people) need daily assistance, suggesting a relatively stable and healthy residential population.
Is Viveash good for property investment?
The $447,000 median entry price is accessible, and weekly rent of $340 implies a gross yield of around 3.9%. However, the 10.9% vacancy rate is elevated and poses a real occupancy risk. Only 27.5% of residents rent, limiting the tenant pool. With 14 development applications in the past 12 months, new supply pressure is low, but investors should monitor vacancy before purchasing.
How is Viveash's population changing?
Population-specific growth forecasts are not available for Viveash, but current indicators show a stable profile. The suburb has 1,280 residents in a 1.49 km2 area with a turnover rate of 22.4%, suggesting moderate movement in and out. The overseas-born share of 31.7% is 10.1 percentage points above national, indicating ongoing migration-driven intake consistent with Perth's broader growth pattern.
What languages are spoken in Viveash?
About 31.7% of Viveash residents were born overseas, which is 10.1 percentage points above the national figure. Malayalam is the most common non-English language with 38 speakers, reflecting a South Indian community presence. Italian is also spoken by 13 residents. Ancestry remains predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (554), Irish (130) and Scottish (111) heritage.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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